Product Packaging Including Integral Storage

ABSTRACT

A packaging device includes a pair of major side panels joined at one end, with opposite ends of the side panels diverging away from one another forming a storage container. A base interconnects the diverging ends of the side panels. The side panels include openings that conform to the shape of a product placed therein. A plurality of retention means are provided to frictionally engage the product. The storage container includes a pair of side panel flaps which enable access to the storage container to insert or remove objects placed therein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a packaging device and method for packaging products and more particularly, to a packaging device and method especially adapted to receive products wherein the device utilizes minimum material, yet adequately secures the product within the package, and also provides a storage container integral with the packaging to store product accessories.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are many considerations for designing packages that hold various types of products. In addition to the purely functional purpose of holding a particular product for display, the packaging must also be appealing to the consumer, and the packaging preferably highlights features of the product that might be attractive to a consumer. Conventional product boxes and similar packaging have been available for many years. Typically, such product packages include labeling and other indicia placed on the container to identify the product housed therein.

Although boxes may be a simple and effective means for packaging products, using separate boxes for individual products presents considerable material costs, as well as other packaging concerns such as the bulk size of multiple products that may need to be shipped to consumer locations.

In addition to reducing the cost of materials in packaging, it is often desirable to have products packaged in a manner that allows the product to be inspected by a consumer prior to purchase. Products that are packaged with hard plastic or plastic shrink wrap material may allow a consumer to view the product; however, the consumer is unable to actually touch the product because of the encapsulation provided by the plastic material.

With many products, various accessories to include separable components or parts are preferably sold with the product, and some means must be provided for separating the accessories from the product so that the consumer, when opening the packaging, specifically observes the contents of the accessories enclosed. It is known to provide accessories and components of a product in separate plastic containers or dividers in the event cardboard packaging is used. However, the same disadvantages exist with respect to the packaging of accessories in that it may be difficult or impossible for a consumer to fully inspect the product accessories prior to the purchase since the accessories may be hidden from view or encapsulated in a plastic material. Of course, it is desirable to prevent accessories from becoming separated from the product; however, there is still a need for product packaging that allows the consumer to have a greater amount of interaction with the product and accessories prior to purchase.

In summation, it would be advantageous to increase purchasers' interaction while also providing a minimum amount of packaging material, thereby reducing overall product costs and providing a more environmentally friendly solution for packaging the product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a packaging device and method of packaging are provided. The packaging device is characterized by a folded piece of material that houses a product, and a retention means is used to hold the product within the confines of the packaging device. Additionally, an integral storage container is provided in the folded piece of material to hold product accessories or separable components of the product. As disclosed in the preferred embodiment, the packaging device may be constructed of a single piece of material that is folded and cut into a desired shape, and when assembled, secures the product therein, as well as any product accessories to accompany the product.

When assembled, the packaging device includes a pair of side panels joined at respective ends, and a base portion which interconnects the opposite ends of the side panels. The base portion also comprises the integral storage container which allows storage of product accessories. The side panels include product openings that are configured to receive the shape of the particular product to be packaged. The retention means extend from these product openings to adequately secure the product. The integral container is formed by a combination of folds and tabs or flanges which create an open space defining the integral container. The retention means may include one or more retention tabs as well as one or more retention extensions that are also formed from the respective side panels in order to hold the product.

Also disclosed herein is a method of packaging a device and securing a product therein. The method includes the steps of providing a piece of material, or a blank, folding the material into a desired shape, securing ends of the material to form an assembled packaging device, inserting a product in gaps between the packaging device, and activating the retention means to retain the product within the packing device. The method also includes steps of forming the integral container, and loading product supplements therein.

In addition to providing an aesthetic presentation of the packaged product, the packaging device has a number of utilitarian advantages. First, a minimum amount of material is used to package the product. The product is not completely encapsulated within a package, such as a box, or shrink wrap packaging; therefore, there is savings in packaging materials. Second, the consumer is able to fully view the package product by rotating the product on its longitudinal axis or otherwise rotate the particular shaped product mounted therein. Additionally, the consumer may physically touch a large portion of the product, thereby allowing the consumer to fully inspect the product prior to purchase. The product may also be displayed in different manners, such as by hanging, or the product may be displayed by simply placing the product on a flat surface since the lower surface of the container is also flat. The integral storage container allows the accessories to be sold with the product, and the accessories are adequately secured in the container, but also may be inspected by the consumer. Alternatively, a sealed integral container can be provided, and a window or viewing port may be incorporated on the integral storage container, thereby preventing the consumer from removing the accessories, but still allowing the consumer to adequately inspect the accessories.

Various other advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art by review of the following drawings, taking in conjunction with the detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment illustrating the packaging device prior to being assembled;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the packaging device as it is being assembled;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the packaging device in a nearly fully assembled configuration, and includes a partial cut-away portion to illustrate an interior section of the packaging device;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating yet another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 5 illustrating a product retained by the packaging device along with product accessories housed within the integral storage container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A first preferred embodiment is shown in FIGS. 1-3. FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating the packaging 10 device prior to assembly. The packaging device 10 includes a pair of symmetrical side panels 12 that extend away from a base 14. Each of the side panels 12 includes at least one retention tab, and as shown, a pair of retention tabs 32. The side panels 12 further include respective retention extensions 34 that are formed by openings cut in the side panels. Each opening generally defines the product shape, and the retention tabs 32 and retention extensions 34 can be provided in various combinations to frictionally engage the product to be held therein. Thus, while the preferred embodiment illustrates a particular arrangement with respect to the retention tabs and extensions, these can be provided in various other shapes and combinations in order to secure the particular shaped product. The portions of the side panels extending longitudinally outward away from the opening formed in the side panels 12 are defined as closure flaps 16. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the closure flaps 16 are folded toward one another and secured to one another.

A number of fold lines are provided in order to place the packaging device 10 in its assembled configuration. As shown with respect to the base 14, three fold lines are provided, namely, a centerfold line 18, and a pair of corner fold lines 20. The center fold line 18 is simply provided to allow the packaging device to be folded in half during storage. When it is desired to assemble the packaging device, it is folded along corner fold lines 20, and the closure flaps 16 are drawn toward one another and secured. The base 14 further includes a pair of opposing base flaps 22 which extend laterally away from the longitudinal axis A-A. A cut or notch is formed in the base flaps 22, thereby defining respective base protrusions 28. The base flaps 22 are folded toward one another along adjacent fold lines 21, and overlap the base 14. One of the side panels 12 further includes a pair of opposing side panel flaps 24, these panel flaps also extending transversely away from the longitudinal axis A-A. Each of these side panel flaps 24 include an ear 26 and a folded edge 30.

As noted above, respective product openings are formed in each side panel 12 to match the shape of the product to be packaged. For the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3, retention extensions 34 are illustrated as arcuate-shaped elements spanning between the lateral sides of the side panels 12.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 2 and 3, assembly of the packaging device 10 is shown. The integral container created when the packaging device is assembled is delimited by the base 14, the pair of side panel flaps 24, and the lower portions 13 of the side panels 12. As specifically shown in FIG. 3, the base flaps 22 are folded back against the base 14, thereby exposing a base slot adjacent the base protrusion 28, and then the ear 26 is inserted in the base slot. The folded edges 30 are folded at approximately 90° with respect to the side panel flaps 24 so that they reside within the open space defined by the integral container. FIG. 3 illustrates the packaging device being nearly fully assembled. The closure flaps 16 may be secured to one another as by an appropriate adhesive or connector, such as one or more staples. Additionally, an adhesive may be applied to the facing surfaces of the lower most retention tabs 32, thereby providing additional support to maintain the container in its closed shape. As also shown, an opening 38 may be formed in the respective closure flaps 16 which allow the packaging device to be displayed on a hanger.

Referring to FIG. 4, a second embodiment of the present invention is shown wherein the side panels 40 of the packaging device 10 are of a different shape, and includes a different arrangement of protrusions/retention means 42. This particular arrangement of the retention means and the opening defined in the side panels 40 can obviously be used to hold or retain a different shaped and sized product. Like reference numbers used in this embodiment correspond to the same structural features illustrated with respect to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates yet another embodiment similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, with the exception that the lower portions 13 of the side panels 12 include an observation window or observation port 44 made of a clear, plastic material. This embodiment of packaging device 10 may be coupled with sealing of the side panel flaps 24 to the base 14 and to the lower portion 13 of the side panels 12 so that the consumer cannot access the accessories stored within the integral storage container, but yet may still view the accessories through the window 44.

FIG. 6 shows the embodiment of FIG. 5 with a product 50 mounted therein. Additionally, the integral storage container includes a plurality of accessories 52 that accompany the product 50. The particular product illustrated in this figure is a pet toy sold and manufactured by the assignee of the present invention, the product being commercially known as the KONG® Pet Toy. The accessories 52 for this product could include various pet treats.

Those skilled in the art can envision any number of different types of products that can be used with the packaging device of the present invention, to include various accessories that are normally sold with the particular product.

By the foregoing, a simple, but effective packaging device is provided. The packaging device incorporates a minimum amount of material, yet may secure various shaped products therein. Incorporation of the retention means allows the packaging device to secure many different shaped products, yet does not substantially add complexity or additional required packaging material. The integral storage container allows accessories to be packaged directly with the product, and allows a user to have a desired amount of interaction with the accessories depending on how the storage container is sealed.

This invention has been described with respect to various embodiments; however, it shall be understood that various other modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the claims appended hereto. 

1. A packaging device for packaging a product therein, said device comprising: a pair of side panels having respective first and second ends, said panels being joined at their respective first ends; a base interconnecting said second ends of said panels; a product opening formed in each of said side panels, said product openings generally defining a shape of the product; retention means formed on said side panels and extending into said product openings of said side panels, said retention means being especially configured to engage the product retained by said packaging device; and a storage container formed by said base, respective lower portions of said side panels, and a pair of side panel flaps, each side panel flap being connected to a corresponding side panel; wherein said packaging device is constructed of a single piece of material, and said piece of material having a shape that is symmetrical about a longitudinal axis thereof.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: each of said side panel flaps further include an ear which is inserted in a base opening located adjacent said base.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said storage container is prism-shaped.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said retention means include at least one of a retention tab and a retention extension.
 5. In combination, a product in a packaging device for receiving the product, said combination comprising: a pair of side panels having respective first and second ends, said panels being joined at their respective first ends; a base interconnecting said second ends of said panels; a product opening formed in each of said side panels, said product openings generally defining a shape of the product; retention means formed on said side panels and extending into said product openings of said side panels, said retention means being especially configured to engage the product retained by said packaging device; a storage container formed by said base, respective lower portions of said side panels, and a pair of side panel flaps, each side panel flap being connected to a corresponding side panel; wherein said packaging device is constructed of a single piece of material, and said piece of material having a shape that is symmetrical about a longitudinal axis thereof; and a product mounted in said packaging device, and said product having at least one product feature formed thereon which engages said retention means for retaining the product within the packaging device.
 6. The combination, as claimed in claim 5 further including: accessories stored in said storage container.
 7. A method of assembling a packaging device and securing a product therein, said method comprising the steps of: providing a sheet of material; cutting the material into a desired shape; folding the material into a desired configuration including forming an integral container, and a plurality of retention means; inserting a product in a product opening formed between surfaces of the packaging device; activating the retention means to engage the product and to secure the product within the packaging device; and inserting accessories in said storage container and closing said storage container to prevent the accessories from spilling therefrom. 